Democrats Rattled After California Sheriff Seizes 650,000 Ballots in Election Integrity Crackdown

Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco, who is also running for governor of California, has taken possession of more than 650,000 ballots from the November election as part of an investigation into possible irregularities in the county’s vote totals.

The action follows claims by the Riverside Election Integrity Team that the county’s reported vote count may be overstated by more than 45,000 ballots.

Speaking at a press conference on Friday, Bianco said the goal of the investigation is straightforward: conduct a physical count of the ballots and compare that number with the official vote totals.

According to Bianco, the process is meant to determine whether the recorded results accurately reflect the ballots cast. He emphasized that even small discrepancies in elections are unacceptable and said the review is necessary to ensure confidence in the outcome.

The investigation focuses on ballots connected to Proposition 50, which received 56 percent support in Riverside County and passed by a margin exceeding 82,000 votes.

Riverside County Registrar of Voters Art Tinoco disputed the claims of a major discrepancy. Tinoco said the concern stems from misinterpreting incomplete data and explained that the actual difference in the numbers was 103 votes, representing about 0.016 percent.

Bianco clarified that the effort should not be viewed as a recount of the proposition but as a verification process that examines the ballots themselves. He said the review could either confirm the accuracy of the election results or reveal issues, but the outcome will not be known until the count is finished.

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I think Eric Swalwell read the story wrong. We were the ones investigating the 45,000 vote discrepancy.

Your Attorney General is the one trying to block it. https://t.co/KvuHSAmk5o

— Sheriff Chad Bianco (@ChadBianco) March 21, 2026

The investigation has drawn criticism from several Democratic officials who have raised concerns about the sheriff’s actions.

California Attorney General Rob Bonta described the ballot seizure and review as unprecedented in size and scope, arguing that it appears to be based on claims lacking factual support. Bonta said his office requested details about the investigation but accused the sheriff of delaying and refusing to cooperate fully.

In a letter sent earlier this month, Bonta wrote that seizing ballots and initiating a count based on what he called vague and unproven allegations could undermine public trust in elections.

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CALIFORNIA POLL – Governor (top two advance)

🟥 Steve Hilton: 17%
🟥 Chad Bianco: 16%
🟦 Katie Porter: 13%
🟦 Eric Swalwell: 13%
🟦 Tom Steyer: 10%
🟦 Xavier Becerra: 5%
🟦 A. Villaraigosa: 4%
🟦 Matt Mahan: 4%
🟦 Betty Yee: 1%
🟦 Thurmond: 1%

Berkeley IGS (A) | 3/9-15 | 3,889… pic.twitter.com/4lYh4Vr6W9

— InteractivePolls (@IAPolls2022) March 18, 2026

Bianco dismissed Bonta’s criticism and responded by calling the attorney general an embarrassment to law enforcement.

California Secretary of State Shirley Weber also criticized the probe, arguing that sheriff’s deputies are not trained election officials and lack experience in administering elections.

Bianco said a judge in Riverside County Superior Court has ordered that a special master be appointed to supervise the ballot counting process.

The investigation comes as Bianco’s campaign for governor continues to gain momentum. A recent poll placed the Republican candidate among the leading contenders in the race.

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